DVD REVIEW: L.A.M.F. Live at the Bowery Electric

Shane | 22 May 2018 | Reply

DVD REVIEW: L.A.M.F. Live at the Bowery Electric
MVD Entertainment
December 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8.5/10

L.A.M.F. stood for Like A Mother Fucker, and was the only studio album by Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers – featuring former New York Dolls Thunders and Jerry Nolan, Billy Rath and Walter Lure – recorded in the midst of 1977’s UK punk fury of the Sex Pistols, Clash and The Damned being loved by some and reviled by many more.

It remains a remarkably touching album made in the eye of a shitstorm of punk, heroin and – like much from the fleeting glory days of punk rock – walks a fine line between passion and nihilism.

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the recording of the album, original (and sole surviving member) Heartbreakers singer/guitarist Walter Lure asked some friends to join him to play the album from start to finish on three consecutive nights at New York’s tiny Bowery Electric club.

Enter former MC5 guitar abuser Wayne Kramer, Blondie drummer Clem Burke and former Replacements (and, briefly, Guns n’ Roses) bassist Tommy Stinson as the house band for three sweaty, packed houses.

Guests include D-Generation’s Jesse Malin, The Dead Boys’ Cheetah Chrome and more, and they pad the album tracks out with a few extras including Jerry Nolan’s NYD Can’t Keep My Eyes On You, but be warned that the DVD booklet boasts a set list including The MC5’s Kick Out The Jams and others, but that’s not here.

It’s gloriously, life-affirmingly, rough and raw and a damn great time (oh to have been in those audiences!), and the musicianship is far and beyond the “can’t play” ethos that punk used to be lumbered with. Stinson’s vocals on the first few tracks are rough as guts – it’s a relief when Malin steps in for a few, but hey, that’s punk rock. Another guest singer, Liza Colby, does a great job on I Love You.

There’s also some interviews as bonus features, a couple of which are pretty interesting.